'92 Was Roller Coaster Ride Through Time

OPINION - COGITATIN'

December 27, 1992|By Richard Shepherd of The Sentinel Staff

Well, another year is about over. How has it treated you?

Now that the trash cans are loaded with the spoils of Christmas past, and our bodies are still sluggish from being stuffed with all those seasonal goodies, it might be a good time to review the past year and wonder what the new one will bring.

I don't know about you, but the past year for this old fellow and his family has seemed like a roller coaster ride with all it's ups and downs.

There have been the good times, mainly in the form of short vacations to the Smoky Mountains, where I'm lucky enough to own a little shack that we have spent some time making livable.

And who could deny the great times a grandad has romping and playing with two of the cutest grandkids in the county? Hey wait a minute, I meant world.

It seems whatever is getting you down seems to disappear, at least for the moment, as you try to match kids stride for stride, only to fall back marveling at the energy of youth. Only a sick spell seems to dampen their spirits. It's a shame that attitude can't last a lifetime.

There have been good and bad days on the job. Sometimes it seems your efforts make a difference. Other times you wonder why you even bothered. But then how does that bumper sticker go? ''A bad day on the golf course is better than the best day at work.'' You may have your own version, but the thought is the same. But when it all boils down it's nice to still have a job when others are losing theirs.

I suffered with everyone else though a presidential election year that dominated headlines and television coverage, and which seemed to focus more attention on local politicians. I've never been so tired of hearing folks stretch the truth or tell outright lies. It seems to get worse with every election.

And can you believe the economic slump? Hey, when it hits as hard as it has right here in normally prosperous Central Florida, you know it's bad.

What about the future? If you can believe the politicians, things are going to get better. At least that's what our new president claims. I may not be from Missouri, but their ''show me'' attitude is one I seem to have when it comes to political promises.

A recent editorial cartoon by Dana Summers made me re-evaluate everything. It showed what appeared to be the average American youngster dreaming of all sorts of fancy Christmas wishes. It also showed a starving Somalian child dreaming of a meager bowl of food.

I said to myself, ''Maybe '92 wasn't that bad after all, and who can really forsee the future? It's only what we make of it anyway, right?''